What Are The Recommended File Sizes For Hostinger? 2026 2026

Hostinger doesn't enforce a single file size limit across all its services. The recommended file sizes depend on what you're uploading, which plan you're on, and which tool you use, the WordPress media library, the File Manager, email attachments, or database imports. In general, for everyday web files like images and scripts, keeping individual uploads under 2 MB is best for performance, but the actual limits go much higher: up to 128 MB for PHP uploads, 100 MB for the File Manager, and 10 MB for email attachments.

Database imports via phpMyAdmin max out at 128 MB, and larger files should go through FTP or SCP. Below I break down every relevant limit, plan by plan, so you know what to expect and when you'll need to work around them.

Understanding Hostinger's file size recommendations

Hostinger, like most web hosts, sets limits at multiple layers. There's the PHP configuration (upload_max_filesize and post_max_size), the web server's own restrictions (Apache or Nginx), the File Manager's hard cap, the email server's attachment policy, and the database management tool's import ceiling. Each layer has a different recommended or maximum size.

The reason for having limits isn't stinginess. It's about server stability. A single user uploading a 500 MB file through a web form could tie up PHP processes, memory, and disk I/O for minutes, slowing down every other site on the same server.

Shared hosting especially needs these guardrails. On VPS or Cloud plans, you get more freedom because you're not sharing resources with strangers, but even then the control panel imposes its own caps.

Hostinger publishes its limits in its help center, and those numbers haven't changed much in the last couple of years. I'll refer to the official documentation as we go.

Which plans have which limits?

The limits are broadly the same across shared hosting plans (Single, Premium, Business) and Cloud plans. VPS plans give you root access, so you can raise PHP values yourself, but the default hPanel limits still apply if you use the pre-installed control panel.

Here is a quick reference table for the main services:

Note: The PHP limits can be raised on VPS and Cloud plans by editing php.ini or using Hostinger's PHP configuration tool in hPanel. On shared hosting, you cannot go above 128 MB.

File upload limits for web hosting

PHP uploadmaxfilesize and postmaxsize

When you upload a file through a web application (WordPress, Joomla, a custom PHP script), the server uses two PHP directives: upload_max_filesize and post_max_size. The latter must be equal to or larger than the former because the entire HTTP POST request (including form fields) counts toward the limit.

On Hostinger's shared and cloud plans, both values are set to 128 MB by default. That means any single file up to 128 MB can be uploaded via a web form, as long as the total request size (including any other fields) stays under 128 MB.

If you try to upload a 129 MB file, you'll see an error like "The uploaded file exceeds the upload_max_filesize directive in php.ini." That's a hard stop.

How to check your current limits

Log into hPanel, go to PHP Configuration (under the Advanced section), and look for the "Upload Max Filesize" and "Post Max Size" fields. They'll show the current values. On shared plans you can't edit them, but you can see them.

WordPress media library limits

WordPress itself has a default memory limit that sometimes overrides the server's PHP limit. On Hostinger, the WordPress memory limit is usually set to 256 MB or 512 MB, which is fine. The media library uses the same PHP upload functions, so the ceiling remains 128 MB.

Still, the recommended file size for WordPress images is much lower. Hostinger's own performance guides suggest keeping image files under 2 MB for fast page loads. A 2 MB image loads in under a second on a good connection; a 128 MB image would take over a minute and bloat your storage.

For videos, PDFs, and other large assets, you're better off hosting them externally (YouTube, Vimeo, cloud storage) or enabling a CDN that buffers the file.

Caveat: WordPress plugins like WP All Import or Advanced Custom Fields may have their own file size limits. Check plugin documentation separately.

File Manager (hPanel) limits

The File Manager in Hostinger's control panel lets you upload files directly to your public_html folder. It's convenient for small files, but it has a 100 MB per file cap. That's lower than the PHP 128 MB limit, which catches people off guard.

You can upload a 120 MB file through WordPress admin, but the same file dropped into the File Manager will fail.

If you need to upload a file larger than 100 MB, use FTP, SFTP, or SCP. FileZilla, Cyberduck, or the command line work fine. Hostinger provides FTP credentials in hPanel under FTP Accounts.

Important: The File Manager limit applies to both shared and cloud hPanel installations. It is not configurable.

FTP, SFTP, and SCP

FTP has no file size limit imposed by Hostinger. You can upload multi-gigabyte files, provided your hosting plan's disk space is sufficient and your internet connection doesn't time out. On shared plans, the maximum disk space ranges from 50 GB (Single) to 200 GB (Business).

On Cloud plans, it's 200 GB to 300 GB. So a 1 GB video file is technically fine, though Hostinger's terms of service prohibit using shared hosting as a media streaming platform, that's against fair use.

For very large files (over 2 GB), use SCP or SFTP rather than plain FTP to avoid corruption. Hostinger's servers support both.

Email attachment size limits

Hostinger's Business Email service (powered by Titan or hosted on their own mail servers) caps each outgoing email at 10 MB total, including the message body and all attachments. That's standard for most email providers (Gmail allows 25 MB, but many hosts stick to 10 MB to reduce spam and server load).

If you need to send larger files, compress them into a ZIP archive or use a file-sharing service like Google Drive, Dropbox, or WeTransfer. Hostinger's email system will reject any message exceeding 10 MB with a bounce-back error.

This limit applies to all Business Email accounts, regardless of shared or cloud hosting plan. If you use a third-party email service (like Google Workspace), its limits are separate.

What about incoming emails?

Incoming emails can be larger than 10 MB if the sending server allows it, but your mailbox storage quota might still reject the message. On Hostinger's Business Email plans, mailbox storage starts at 10 GB, so a single 20 MB attachment is fine, provided it doesn't push the mailbox over its limit.

Database import size limits

If you're migrating a website to Hostinger, you'll likely need to import a SQL database file. Hostinger's phpMyAdmin interface imposes a 128 MB cap on uploaded SQL files. This is a common limit across many hosts (MediaWiki knows it well).

Large database dumps (e.g., from a WooCommerce store with years of orders) often exceed 128 MB.

How to import a larger database

You have three options:

1. Use the command line via SSH (requires VPS or at least SSH access, which is available on Business shared and all cloud plans). Run mysql -u username -p database_name < dump.sql.
2. Split the SQL file into chunks under 128 MB using tools like split or BigDump script. This is tedious but works on shared plans.
3. Upgrade to Cloud or VPS where you have more control and can skip phpMyAdmin entirely.

Hostinger's documentation recommends using SSH for imports over 50 MB to avoid timeouts.

Maximum MySQL database size

Shared hosting plans have a database size limit of 1 GB per database (on Premium and Business). Cloud plans increase that to 2 GB or more. If your database gets bigger than that, consider optimizing tables or upgrading to a VPS.

How to increase file size limits in Hostinger

On shared hosting (limited)

On shared plans, you cannot increase PHP upload limits beyond 128 MB, and the File Manager limit is fixed. However, you can sometimes raise the WordPress memory limit by editing wp-config.php:

define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

That only affects WordPress, not PHP uploads. If you absolutely need to upload files larger than 128 MB, switch to FTP.

On Cloud and VPS plans

Cloud plans give you access to the PHP Configuration tool in hPanel. You can set upload_max_filesize and post_max_size to anything up to 512 MB or even 1 GB, depending on the plan. VPS plans with root access let you edit php.ini directly for unlimited values.

Steps for Cloud plans:

1. Go to hPanel → Advanced → PHP Configuration.
2. Select the PHP version you're using.
3. Adjust "upload_max_filesize" and "post_max_size" to your desired value (e.g., 256M).
4. Click Save. Changes take effect immediately.

Note: Raising these values consumes server memory. If you set upload_max_filesize to 1 GB, a single upload request could tie up 1 GB of RAM. On shared resources, that can cause out-of-memory errors for your site.

Only raise it as high as you genuinely need.

Common mix-ups about file sizes on Hostinger

Mix-up: "Hostinger has a 2 MB file size limit because that's what WordPress recommends."

Reality: WordPress recommends 2 MB for images to keep pages fast, but the actual PHP limit on Hostinger is 128 MB. The 2 MB suggestion is a performance guideline, not a server restriction. You can upload 128 MB if you want, it will just slow down your site and use up storage.

Mix-up: "The File Manager and PHP uploads use the same limit."

Reality: They are separate systems. PHP uploads cap at 128 MB. The File Manager caps at 100 MB.

If you try to upload a 110 MB file through the File Manager, it will fail, but the same file might work through WordPress if you use the media library. Always check which tool you're using.

Mix-up: "Email attachment size is the same as web upload size."

Reality: Email attachments have their own 10 MB limit, far lower than the 128 MB PHP limit. They are handled by the mail transfer agent (MTA), not the web server. A 15 MB file sent via email will bounce.

Mix-up: "Database import limit is the same as PHP upload limit."

Reality: phpMyAdmin has its own 128 MB import limit, separate from PHP uploads. Even if you raise PHP values, phpMyAdmin's limit stays unless you modify its configuration (which isn't possible on shared hosting). Use command line for large imports.

What this means for you

If you're running a standard WordPress site, you won't hit these limits often. Images are usually under 1 MB, themes and plugins are under 10 MB each. The 128 MB PHP limit and 100 MB File Manager limit give you plenty of room for the occasional PDF, ebook, or small video.

The real pain points are email attachments over 10 MB and database imports over 128 MB. For email, use cloud storage links. For database imports, learn the SSH command line, it's the cleanest workaround.

If you regularly upload files larger than 100 MB (high-res video, large backup archives), you'll want at least a Cloud plan where you can raise PHP limits and use FTP without hassle. The shared hosting File Manager limit becomes a bottleneck.

Hostinger's own documentation recommends compressing large files with gzip or ZIP before uploading. A 200 MB video might compress to 50 MB, fitting within the File Manager cap.

One final thing: don't confuse file size limits with storage limits. You can upload many small files that add up to 100 GB of storage (if your plan allows), but no single file can exceed the per-file limits above.

If you're ready to pick a plan that handles larger files, check the differences between shared and cloud hosting, the upgrade gives you more elbow room. And always use a coupon to save on the initial term.

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum file size I can upload to Hostinger's File Manager?

The File Manager in hPanel allows a maximum of 100 MB per file. If you try to upload a larger file, it will fail. Use FTP or SFTP for files over 100 MB.

Can I increase the PHP upload limit on Hostinger shared hosting?

No. On shared plans, the upload_max_filesize and post_max_size are fixed at 128 MB. You cannot edit php.ini.

To get higher limits, you need a Cloud or VPS plan.

What is the email attachment size limit with Hostinger Business Email?

Each outgoing email is limited to 10 MB total, including the message body and any attachments. Attachments over that size will be rejected by the server.

How do I import a MySQL database larger than 128 MB on Hostinger?

Use SSH command line: connect via terminal and run mysql -u username -p database_name < file.sql. If you don't have SSH access (Single plan), split the SQL file into chunks under 128 MB or upgrade to a plan with SSH.

If you're planning to migrate a site with a large database, you might want to check how the Business Web Hosting plan handles that, it includes SSH and higher storage limits.

Ready to get started with Hostinger?

If the file sizes I've described fit your needs, Hostinger is a solid choice. Their recommended limits cover most personal and small business sites. For larger projects, the Cloud and VPS tiers give you the headroom to grow.

You can use a Hostinger coupon code to bring the cost down on your first billing cycle, that applies to shared and cloud plans alike.

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